Maidan-2013

Survey of Maidan participants was conducted on 7th (Saturday) and 8th (Sunday) of December by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. 1037 respondents were questioned (375 on December, 7 and 662 – on December, 8th) according to methodology, which ensured random sample of Maidan participants.

Among reasons, which made people came out to the Maidan , three the most widespread were: brutal beating of demonstrators at the Maidan on November, 30 night, repressions (70%), Viktor Yanukovych refusal to sigh the Association Agreement with the EU (53.5%) and desire to change life in Ukraine (50%). Rather pronounced were also desire to change authorities in Ukraine (39%). Opposition’s appeals were an impetus for 5% of protesters and the same number of came to the Maidan in order to revenge upon authorities for everything it has been doing.

Among all the demands, which were declared at the Maidan, the greatest support (by more than one half of respondents) was given to the following demands: release of arrested participants of the Maidan, stop of repressions (82%), resignation of the government (80%), resignation of Viktor Yanukovych and conduction of pre-term presidential elections (75%), signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union (71%), opening of criminal cases against all people responsible for beating the protesters on the Maidan (58%), dissolution of Verkhovna Rada and call for early parliamentarian elections (56%). Besides of that, a lot of Maidan participants supported opening of criminal cases against all persons involved in corruption (50%), general increase of people’s welfare (47%), release of Yuliya Tymoshanko (38%), and change of Constitution, return to constitutional reform 2004, that limited president’s power (38%).

While defining three the most important demands respondents choose the following: release of arrested participants of the Maidan, stop of repressions (58%), resignation of the government (51%), resignation of Viktor Yanukovych and conduction of pre-term presidential elections (49.5%).

Slightly more than one half of Maidan participants (51%) agree with proposal to conduct round-table negotiations with participation of authorities, opposition and civil society leaders through the mediation of international organizations, but 41.5% of respondents consider, that any negotiations with authorities shouldn’t be hold (other 7% don’t have concrete point of view). Kyiv citizens have more peaceful position (among them 56% support round-table negotiations, and 37% - don’t support). Thoughts of protesters, who came from other regions and cities, divided among two options: 47% are in favor of the round table, while 45% are against such negotiations. Youth is slightly more inclined to compromises (56%), than middle-age (48%) and elderly people (48%).

It is naturally, that Maidan participants tend to participate in different forms of protest much more than population in general. Most of all they are ready to participate in authorized meetings and demonstrations (71%), 43% - in strikes, 37% - in picketing governmental offices, 15% - in creation of armed forced, independent from authorities, 14% - in seizure of buildings, 11% - in the hunger protests.

Predominant majority of the protesters (74%) are ready to leave the Maidan if only all key demands are fulfilled, while 28.5% will be satisfied enough to leave it if some key demands are met. Among other triggers which could prompt people to leave the Maidan are objective reasons, such as job or study (16.5%), fatigue or illness (13%), decision of majority to do so (13%), disillusionment in protest leaders (7.5%), repressions (6%), and cold (2%).

Majority of Maidan protesters, 72%, answered that they would stay there “as long as necessary”. Among Kyiv inhabitants, this share is larger (83%) than among capital visitors (62%).

There are around 50% of both Kyiv inhabitants and visitors on the Maidan. Absolute majority of the protesters arrived in Kyiv on their own, while arrival of 6% of the protesters was organized by civil organization or movement and 2% more got here as members of group of party activists.

Most of Maidan protesters (92%) are not members of any party, civil organization or movement. Only 4% are party members, 3.5% belong to some civil organization, and 1% more – to some civil movement.

Social-demographic structure of Maidan protesters reveals larger share of men (56%) than women (44%). The demonstrators are also generally younger than the whole Ukrainian population: average Maidan protester is 36 years old (38% – 15-29 years, 49% – 30-54 years, 13% – 55 years and older). Majority of Maidan participants have higher education (64%), 22% have secondary or special secondary education, 13% – unfinished higher education, and 1% – unfinished secondary education. Slightly more than a half of Maidan protesters speak Ukrainian at home, 27% speak Russian, 18% use both languages, and 1% speaks other languages. Professional dimension of Maidan participants are as follows: 40% are specialists with higher education, 12% – students, 9% – entrepreneurs, 9% – pensioners, 8% – managers, 7% – workers.

Social-demogarphic structure of the Maidan was also somehow different on 7 December (Saturday), when Maidan was less populated, and on 8 December (Sunday), when there were hundreds of thousands of protesters in adjacent areas. On Saturday, there were 42% of young people, 43% of middle-aged people, and 15% of older people. On Sunday, the proportions were 36%, 52%, and 12%, respectively. On Saturday, there were more Kyiv visitors (54%) than Kyiv inhabitants (46%), while on Sunday, Kyiv inhabitants constituted majority (57%) compared to visitors of the capital (43%).

Results

What made you come out to the Maidan? (pick no more than three main reasons)

Viktor Yanukovych refusal to sigh the Association Agreement with the EU

53,5

Brutal beating of demonstrators at the Maidan on November, 30 night, repressions

69,6

Opposition leaders’ appeals

5,4

Desire to change authorities in the country

39,1

Desire to change life in Ukraine

49,9

Solidarity with friends, colleagues, relatives, which are also at the Maidan

6,2

Backslide of democracy, danger of dictatorship

18,9

It is funny and interesting at the Maidan

2,2

Desire to revenge upon authorities for everything it has been doing within the country

5,2

Danger that Ukraine will enter the Custom Union and will turn back in general to Russia

16,9

Money which I was paid (or was promised to receive)

0,3

Other (What exactly?)

3,3

Difficult to answer

0,5

What demands, which were declared at the Maidan, do you support? (mark all options which are important for you)

Release of arrested participants of the Maidan, stop of repressions

81,8

Signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union

71.0

Resignation of the government

80,1

Opening of criminal cases against all people responsible for beating the protesters on the Maidan

57,6

Dissolution of Verkhovna Rada and call for early parliamentarian elections

55,6

Release of Yuliya Tymoshanko

37,8

Resignation of Viktor Yanukovych and conduction of pre-term presidential elections

75,1

Change of Constitution, return to constitutional reform 2004, that limited president’s power

37,9

Opening of criminal cases against all persons involved in corruption

49,6

General increase of people’s welfare

46,9

Other

3,4

Difficult to answer

0

If you had to choose three most important demands from the whole list, than what would you mark out?

Release of arrested participants of the Maidan, stop of repressions

58,1

Signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union

43,7

Resignation of the government

51.0

Opening of criminal cases against all people responsible for beating the protesters on the Maidan

17,1

Dissolution of Verkhovna Rada and call for early parliamentarian elections

20,6

Release of Yuliya Tymoshanko

8,7

Resignation of Viktor Yanukovych and conduction of pre-term presidential elections

49,5

Change of Constitution, return to constitutional reform 2004, that limited president’s power

7,4

Opening of criminal cases against all persons involved in corruption

10,2

General increase of people’s welfare

11,5

Other

1,1

Difficult to answer

0,1

Do you agree with proposal to conduct round-table negotiations with participation of authorities, opposition and civil society leaders through mediation of international organizations?

Yes, such negotiations are necessary

51,3

Any negotiations with authorities shouldn’t be hold

41,5

Difficult to answer

7,2

5. Inwhatformsofsocialprotestwouldyoupersonallybereadytoparticipate? (mark all options which are acceptable for you)

Participation in election campaign

51,4

Collection of signatures for collective calls (demands, appeals)

37,2

Authorized meetings and demonstrations

70,7

Threatening by strike possibility

28,6

Boycott (refusal to implement decisions of administration, official institutions)

35,8

Non-authorized meetings and demonstrations

27,8

Participation in strikes

42,7

Hunger protest

10,6

Picketing governmental offices, blocking their work

35,4

Seizure of buildings

13,8

Creation of armed forced, independent from authorities

15

Other

2,5

I am not ready to participate in any mass protests

2

Difficult to answer

0,5

6. What could compel you to leave the Maidan? (pick no more than 3 answers)

Fulfillment of all demands which were put on the Maidan

73,9

Fulfillment of some key demands

28,5

Fulfillment of any part of the demands

5,8

Objective reasons which do not allow me to stay on the Maidan permanently (job, study)

16,5

Fatigue, worsening of health conditions

13

Disillusionment in protest leaders

7,5

Cold

2,3

Disappointment in our ability to change anything

4,4

Repressions against Maidan protesters

5,8

If my friends and acquaintances will leave the Maidan

1,7

If majority of the Maidan protesters will decide to leave it

12,8

Other

2,3

Difficult to answer

0,5

7. How long are you going to stay on the Maidan?

Only today

6

No more than 2-3 days

9,2

No more than one week

4,4

No more than two weeks

0,9

Till the New Year

3,4

As long as necessary

72,4

Difficult to answer

3,6

8. Where are you from?

From Kyiv

49,8

From other region

50,2

9. If you come to Kyiv from outside, did you come on your own or in organized group?